Vegas vacation pics...

[EmilyK]

I posted this over on the TTC boards on Healthy Living, but I wanted to add some pictures and didn't want to hijack the thread!

We had a fabulous time in Vegas!! We had to wake up at 4:00 am (Ohio) to get to the airport in time for our flight and stayed up that night until nearly midnight (Nevada)... it was the longest day in history!! We walked up and down the strip several times, stopping into several hotels/casinos as we went... all I can say is WOW! That city absolutely amazes me... all the hustle and bustle!

We rented a car and drove out to Valley of Fire all day Saturday... it was beautiful! I couldn't believe we were there - it was a very surreal experience. Sunday, we went out with our friends' (we went out there with another couple) relatives sailing on Lake Mead. Well, we tried to sail, but there wasn't any wind... so we puttered around Lake Mead. Went swimming to cool off, too! We saw some comedy shows and went to Tournament of Kings... ate way TOO much great food... We definitely want to go back to see more! The only problem we had (other than blisters on our feet from all the walking) was the wind on Monday!! Holy cow! That causes some major turbulence on your flight!!

A little more info... we stayed at the Monte Carlo, which I recommend. It isn't as big as the other ones as far as "themes" go, but it was very nice and subtle (yet grand). We were there 5/6 - 5/10.

More pics to follow... :)

[EmilyK]

This is a picture of DH and I in front of a fountain at the front of our hotel...

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4db32b3127ccebe2039d388a30000002613

The view from our hotel room at night ...

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4db32b3127ccebe2039f188810000001610

[EmilyK]

Driving in Valley of Fire State Park...

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4db32b3127ccebe2039e809a80000001610

DH and I at Valley of Fire... (pic didn't turn out too bad, since it was on a rock on a timer!! :))

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4db32b3127ccebe20390c094c0000001610

[colleency]

Those are cute pictures, Emily!

[EmilyK]

The view from the sailboat on Lake Mead...

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4db32b3127ccebe2039dc099c0000001610

New York New York at night...

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4db32b3127ccebe2039f409b40000001610

[EmilyK]

I have a ton more pictures, but I didn't want to post too many... :D I go a little crazy with the camera, which makes it a good thing to have digital!! Gets VERY expensive with regular film!

Thanks, colleency!!

[DmOrtega]

Your pictures are very good. They are so clear. It looks like you both had a great time and the weather was good. Thanks for sharing.

[lisas3575]

Great pics! Thanks for sharing. It's always really nice to finally put a face with the name. :)

[crlykat]

WOw, those pictures are great! Valley of Fire looks especially beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

[Wendy w]

Thanks for posting the pictures Emily. Looks like you had a great time! I visited the Valley of Fire about 12 years ago and was in awe by it. If any of you get to Vegas, I highly recommend it. Although it is kind of out of the way, it is well worth it.

[TerriS]

Looks like you had a great time! Awesome pics! Too funny, my SIL was in Vegas the same weekend!

[Beth H]

Where is the Valley of Fire? As many times as I've been in Vegas, I haven't been there. Of course, since the next time we're going is in July, it might be a bit too hot to go there.

[EmilyK]

BethH - Valley of Fire is Northeast of Lake Mead, which made it about a 1 1/2 hour one-way drive to visit. There is a self-pay fee of $6 per vehicle (no biggie, but good to know). They provide a map which shows you all the different trails you can hike... if you go, remember to wear closed shoes (the sand gets very hot) and plenty of water!

More info: http://parks.nv.gov/vf.htm

We had the best time there - probably one of the best vacations ever! I also highly recommend taking a day to visit Valley of Fire or Red Rock (we didn't see that one, but heard it was nice)... we were so in awe of the whole place! You can't get the depth from the pictures, but it was amazing!

It was also really nice that it was so quiet at the park... no dinging of the slots or any of the bustle you get in the city! :D

Thanks for the compliments on the pictures... photography is one of my hobbies and I was very pleased with the vivid color I got from my dinky little camera... :)

[Beth H]

BethH - Valley of Fire is Northeast of Lake Mead, which made it about a 1 1/2 hour one-way drive to visit. There is a self-pay fee of $6 per vehicle (no biggie, but good to know). They provide a map which shows you all the different trails you can hike... if you go, remember to wear closed shoes (the sand gets very hot) and plenty of water!

Thanks - I've been out to Lake Mead and Hoover Dam but not really beyond that. I don't think that sounds appealing in mid-July but next time we're there in the spring, I'll put that on my list. The photos make it look spectacular.

[JanetJ]

Great pictures! Looks like you had a great time and had fantastic weather. You stayed at the hotel I was married at 2 months ago! :)

[eas11]

Great pics! Looks and sounds like you had a wonderful time. I was in Vegas 2 years ago, your pics made me wish we had more time and were able to see the Valley of Fire. Thanks for posting them.

Ellyn

[Loremma]

Emily, your pictures are great! Thanks for the recommendation for the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino. I was looking for a place to stay when I go in July (to see Elton John), and now I have reservations. Thanks!

[CindyWeightWatcher]

Very nice pictures. Looks like you had fun!
The water is so pretty.

[FuzzyDolly]

Glad to hear you had a good time. My wife and I went to Vegas in April, and were part of the whole Bellagio power outage fiasco. Needless to say, we are on a mission to stop everyone we know from ever staying at the Bellagio again. They were extremely unaccomadating, and I can't believe they have the star rating that they do. Needless to say, my wife and I won't be returning to Vegas anytime soon. Thank God we were able to stay at the Four Seasons. If it wasn't for them, the trip would have been a total loss.

[Vicanddi]

Emily, your pictures are wonderful, so crisp and clear; thanks for sharing them. Looks like you had a great time!

My DH and I are going to Vegas in about a month for a friends wedding and plan on staying at New York, New York. They're getting married at Mandalay Bay. FuzzyDolly, I didn't hear about the Bellagio power outage (maybe I live under a rock, I don't know ;) :D ), but thanks for sharing your experience. I've never stayed at Bellagio, but thought they would have exceptional customer service.

[EmilyK]

Originally posted by Vicanddi
My DH and I are going to Vegas in about a month for a friends wedding and plan on staying at Ney York, New York.

Nine Fine Irishman (a pub) is in the New York, New York and I highly recommend it!! We only had beer and dessert there, but everything was wonderful - especially the atmosphere... there was a band playing and dancing while we were there...

We heard about the power outage problem at the Bellagio, sorry you had a bad experience. That's one of the resort/casinos we didn't go into... just watched the fountain show outside.

Loremma, glad I could help! Hope you like your stay there as much as we did! :)

[Vicanddi]

Originally posted by EmilyK


Nine Fine Irishman (a pub) is in the New York, New York and I highly recommend it!! We only had beer and dessert there, but everything was wonderful - especially the atmosphere... there was a band playing and dancing while we were there...


Thanks for the recommendation! This will be our first time there, and we will definitely check it out. We're staying 4 nights; hope we have a chance to see a lot. Time sure flies when you're in Vegas :) :D

[luckylori]

Hi Emily...great pics! I love Vegas. Strange question for you. I heard the walls in the Monte Carlo are paper thin. Did you notice that? I had that problem at Mandalay Bay...the next door neighbors might as well have been in our room. And I do hope that "Tina" has dumped the evil guy she was with.

[EmilyK]

I didn't notice that the walls were really thin... we were there with another couple who stayed in the room next to ours (the headboards in our room were on the same wall as theirs). I know when we called them, we could faintly hear the phone ring in their room... and we could hear the water for their shower. Other noises.. :o Nope... we couldn't hear any talking or anything like that! When loud folks were in the hallway, we could hear them, but I have yet to be in a hotel anywhere where you can't. Hope that helps!

[Beth H]

My DH and I are going to Vegas in about a month for a friends wedding and plan on staying at New York, New York.

One small piece of advice - just make sure your room is not near the roller coaster. While it doesn't run 24 hours a day, it does start up fairly early and end quite late. A friend of my aunt's stayed there a couple of years ago, and while she enjoyed it, the roller coaster rumbled right outside her room, making it difficult for her to take naps and rest in the room when she wanted to.

I'm glad to hear a recommendation on Nine Fine Irishmen - I want to go there while we're in town in July.

[EmilyK]

Oh yes, just as an additional comment on Nine Fine Irishmen... if you want to sit outside, make sure you are planning to eat dinner while you were there... even if you will get appetizers or dessert and drinks, they still won't let you sit out there! :( My only complaint about the place...